Melbourne Heart boss John van’t Schip has pledged his confidence in back-up goalkeeper Nikola Roganovic, who made his first-team professional debut for the Melbourne based club in last week’s opening round defeat to Newcastle Jets at Ausgrid Stadium.

Despite losing the match 3-2 – with an ill-fated deflection in the dying minutes – the Dutch coach believes the former Green Gully custodian has what it takes to step up to the riggers of A-League football. With Clint Bolton succumbing to a groin injury on the eve of the new season, it is unknown at this stage when the first-choice keeper will be eligible for selection. The former Sydney FC foundational player could be sidelined in excess of a month.

''It could be two weeks, it could be four weeks,'' van’t Schip revealed to The Age.

Roganovic performed astutely throughout the Victorian Premier League campaign, guiding the Green Gully Cavaliers to back-to-back championships – triumphing 3-2 against Oakleigh Cannons after extra-time - and their ninth in the club’s history.

Bolton’s understudy will make his home debut on Sunday afternoon at AAMI Park, when the red and white of Melbourne entertain Perth Glory – who encompass a paltry record on the road.

''We don't have any doubt about him,'' van 't Schip said. ''We looked around for about a year before we signed him.”